Service-box for service-pipes.



No. 635,328. Patented Oct. 24, I899. J. 0. A.- LAFOREST.

SERVICE BOX FOB SERVICE PIPES.

[Application filed June 2, 1899.)

(N o M o d e l UNITE STATES ATENT Enron.

JOSEPH OCTAVE ALFRED LAFOREST, OF MONTREAL, CANADA.

SERVICE-BOX FOR SERVICE-PIPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,328, dated October24, 1899.

Application filed Tune 2, 1 899.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH OCTAVE ALFRED LAFOREST, a subject of HerMajesty the Queen of Great Britain, residing at the city and district ofMontreal, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inService- Boxes for Service-Pipes; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchas will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeand use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in service-boxes forservice-pipes, and has for its object to provide a box of this characterso constructed as to permit of ready access to the cock of theservice-pipe for operatin g the same.

A further object is to provide a service-box which is simple inconstruction, reliable in operation, of few parts, and which can be-manufactured at a low cost.

To these ends the invention consists in a service-box constructedsubstantially as hereinafter illustrated and described, and defined inthe appended claim.

Referring to the drawings, in Which similar letters of referenceindicate similar parts, Figure 1 is an elevation of the improvedservice-box constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is avertical central section of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a viewin elevation of theoperating-key in position on the rod which is broken off. Fig. 4 is aView in elevation of a detail partly broken. Fig. 5 is a perspectiveView of the base-plate. Fig. 6 is a plan of the pi pe-joint, showing theoperating-cock.

In the drawings, A represents the ,baseplate of the improvedservice-box, which may be made of metal or other suitable material,preferably earthenware, vitrified clay, '&c., andisofsubstantiallyrectangularform. Two opposite edges of the base-plate areoffset at a and a, and an angular groove a is formed along the entirelength of these edges, as shown in Fig. 5. The upper surface of thebase-plate is provided with a recess or socket a which extends acrossfrom side to side and is shaped to conform with the shape of thepipe-joint (J and its operating-cock G, which is adapted to be receivedand held in said socket. Adjacent to the central portion of the socket aand on opposite sides thereof is Serial No. 719,123. (No model.)

formed two semicircular grooves a which correspond substantially withthe shape of said socket and are adapted to receive the lower edge ofthe cylindrical protecting-cone B, whereby the same is securely held tosaid base-plate. The cone B may be of any suitable material, preferablyearthenware, vitrified clay, &c., and is substantially of the shape of atruncated cone havinga height and diameter sufficient to cover andprotect the cock and its operating-key. The lower edge of the cone B isprovided with semicircular recesses 19, arranged on opposite sidesthereof to provide space for the ends of the pipejoint 0. The upperextremity of the cone B is provided with a suitable cap or collar 1), ofbrass or other suitable non-corroding material, which is held thereon bythe weight of the earth packed about it.

A tube D is movably sleeved in an opening of the cap I) and extendsdownwardly within the cone B to a point near the cock 0 and may beformed of one or more jointed sections, according to the depth below thesurface of the ground the base-plate is situated. Aremovable cover 61 isthreaded to the upper end of the tube D, and, if desired, the contactingsurfaces may be made of brass or other suitable non-corroding metal.

Within the tube D is arranged a rod E, the lower end of which is adaptedto engage the head of the cock 0 and is secured thereto in any suitablemanner. The upper end of the rod E terminates some distance below thetop of the tube D and is squared to receive the socket end of theoperating-key F, whereby the rod may be turned and the cock opened orclosed, as desired.

From the above description it is apparent that by means of thisconstruction the pipejoint is firmly supported in the base-plate and isfully protected from dirt, &c., and that while it is protected frombeing tampered with the cock can be readily reached and operated.

The ofiset edges of the base-plate insure the firm jointing together oftwo or more serviceboXes where a series of them is necessary and serveto prevent transverse and vertical movement of the same with respect toeach other.

While I have herein shown a preferred form of carrying myinvention intoeffect, yet I do not desire to limit myself to such pro ferred detailsof construction, but claim the right to use any and all modificationsthereof which will serve to carry into eifect the objects to be attainedby this invention in so far as such modifications and changes may fallwithin the spirit and scope of my said invention.

The construction and arrangement above described are such that shouldthe tube D be vertically moved by the action of frost, &c., the positionof the remaining parts is not disturbed, the said tube sliding freelythrough the opening in the collar 1).

The weight of the earth packed about the cone B keeps it firmly inplace, while its shape prevents its displacement by the action of frost,&c.

I claim- A service-box, comprising a base-plate provided with a recessto receive a pipe-joint and semicircular grooves adjacent to saidrecess, a protecting-cone having its lower edge secured Within saidgrooves and recessed at opposite sides to provide space for the ends ofthe said pipe-joint, a cap upon the top of said cone, a tube movablysleeved within an opening in said cap, the lower end of said tubeextending to a point near the cock of said joint, a removable cap on theupper end of said tube, and an operating-rod arranged within said tube,having its lower end secured to said cap and its upper end squared toreceive a key, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twoWitnesses.

JOSEPH OCTAVE ALFRED LAFOREST.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM B. ROBERTS, A. W. YOUNG.

